A short 1970's Playlist: Part 1

For a long time, many of these songs had become cliche and stale to me. However, recently I started listening with fresh ears again. . .and it's true, these songs are incredible and defining of the 1970s musically and culturally.

“Superstition”	Stevie Wonder	A compelling drum solo of sorts kicks off this downright groovy tune, in which Stevie Wonder contemplates the fallacies of self fulfilling prophecies and their ability to perpetuate poverty and misery.
“What’s Going On”	Marvin Gaye	Marvin’s melodic and soft voice is paired with chilled out music to create a unique, depressed yet beautiful 70’s vibe. Here, the emphasis  is on meditation, ecological suffering, and the horrors of war.
“On the Beach”	Neil Young	Neil Young is hiding out on a dark California beach, looking through the fog, measuring up pain and fame over some minor chords, rolling base, and sensible drums. Very moody.
“Burnin’ For You”	Blue Oyster Cult	In many ways, this song defines the 70s rock sound. “Burning for You” comes complete with a tasty riff, slicing verses that howl about love, all topped off with a blistering guitar solo. It’s incredibly listenable and full of hooks. Why not enjoy?
“Band on the Run”	Paul McCartney and the Wings	During the 60’s, the Beatles reigned supreme. John was the dark genus, George the brooding spiritual folkie, and Ringo was the reliable and lovable drummer. Paul wrote the pop songs, and if the Wings prove anything, its that he never stopped. Into the 70’s McCartney released songs like “Band on the Run” that showcased his penchant for stadium, radio-friendly rock. This particular tune takes a few left turns and stylistically covers just about every kind of McCarney and the Wings song you’ll ever hear.
“Over the Hills and Far Away”	Led Zepplin	Robert Plant has one of those voices that has inspired unlistenable screeches from the likes of 80s bands like Motley Crue and whoever sang for ACDC. Before the hair metal tragedy, though, was Zepplin. Lead singer Jimmy Page did it better than all of them. Here, Page's voice is paired along with the two other things Zepplin had going for them: the ability to get just a bit folkie while still capturing the audience with majestic guitar hooks.
“Waiting in Vain”	Bob Marley and the Wailers	Bob Marley brought Jamaican culture and reggae music to the world in the 1970’s. “Waiting in Vain” represents his finest crafted tune. A languid lead guitar snakes an almost flute-like line around Marley’s up and down reggae beat as he sings his laments about love and waiting.
“Guns of Brixton”	The Clash	The Clash were early punk rockers, rebellious Englishmen with a working class ethos who were influenced by reggae and underground culture as much as early rock n’ roll. This reggae inspired tune preaches violence, sends off a few warning shots, and documents the immigrant experience in British public housing in the 70s.
“Shadowplay”	Joy Division	The name for Joy Division was inspired by some of the darkest corners of the 21st century. Here, the sound is like nothing else from the 70’s, and complete original. Images of a man in a dark coat escaping down the sidewalk as the smokestacks rise above him summarize 70s deindustrialization and cultural madness.